First Time Reloading - Thoughts on What Else I Need?

[Raralith]

Firstly, I want to thank everyone for the information on these forums as it has greatly helped me out in figuring reloading out. I'm getting into reloading so "save" money (than lose it by shooting more). I want to start out as economically as possible; i.e., get the basics and spend the more on components. My focus right now will be 40 S&W out of my Glock 23. I just purchased the "Lee Classic Turret Press Kit" (http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...roductId/23840) which comes with the following:
- Turret press
- Auto powder measure
- Primer assistant/loader
- Scale
- Cutter, lock stud, chamfer tool, primer pocket cleaner, lube (won't use these yet)
- Will be ordering Lee Carbide die, 4 piece set 40 S&W
- Bullet puller? Digital scale? Caliper? Glock brass bulge fixer?
I am going to avoid a tumbler for now so I can stock up on more components, but I am going to be washing my brass in water/soap/vinegar solution than bake on the lowest setting in the oven.

Component wise, I have been recommended Hodgdon HP38, not too sure on the primers (Winchester or CCI?), and no idea on the bullet (Berry's or Rainier?) but I do want 180 grain.

Does anyone care to give any input? Anything I should swap out? Something I missed? Any more advice?

[Exodus343]

Get a good digital scale
but most members here will tell you to scrap the turret press and go straight to a progressive

I started on a single stage since I load only rifle calibers
but once I turn 21..... I'll be burning money on a Progressive press and all the goodies...

welcome to the club

[Nickbowen5]

Get a bullet puller, headspace gauge kit, digital calipers, good scale (Recommend RCBS 1010) that's as simple as it can get

[Bill Steele]

Firstly, I want to thank everyone for the information on these forums as it has greatly helped me out in figuring reloading out. I'm getting into reloading so "save" money (than lose it by shooting more). I want to start out as economically as possible; i.e., get the basics and spend the more on components. My focus right now will be 40 S&W out of my Glock 23. I just purchased the "Lee Classic Turret Press Kit" (http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...roductId/23840) which comes with the following:
- Turret press
- Auto powder measure
- Primer assistant/loader
- Scale
- Cutter, lock stud, chamfer tool, primer pocket cleaner, lube (won't use these yet)
- Will be ordering Lee Carbide die, 4 piece set 40 S&W
- Bullet puller? Digital scale? Caliper? Glock brass bulge fixer?
I am going to avoid a tumbler for now so I can stock up on more components, but I am going to be washing my brass in water/soap/vinegar solution than bake on the lowest setting in the oven.

Component wise, I have been recommended Hodgdon HP38, not too sure on the primers (Winchester or CCI?), and no idea on the bullet (Berry's or Rainier?) but I do want 180 grain.

Does anyone care to give any input? Anything I should swap out? Something I missed? Any more advice?

The kit in the link uses a Lee Auto Disk pro powder drop, with this measure and the included Lee scale, all the powder measuring you will need for 40S&W will be in that kit.

As you surmise, you will need carbide 40S&W dies (lee work fine, get the deluxe set), caliper for measuring finished OAL (don't spend a lot on this unit), no need for digital caliper (batteries required) and get a kinetic (hammer style) bullet puller and you should be up and running.

That will be all you need to start producing ammo.

Look at Xtreme plated bullets on their website, better value in plated bullets.

Good luck, have fun.

[Justintoxicated]

You will want a tumber, I would instead skip the turret press, get a tumbler and single stage press with quick change bushings instead if that's an option. Cleaning brass sucks so you will want to automate this step, cleaner brass means cleaner less problematic dies. You can skip the primer pocket cleaner and get a more useful "primer pocket uniformer". Just get a small base die later if you size your brass and still have case/glock buldge.

Look into a hornady kit, and compare the cost to the Lee if you include the 500 free hornady bullets and other extras you get for buying their kit. I picked 500 185gr XTP hollowpoints for my 500 free bullets.

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/23675

or cheaper:

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/5985

the delux comes with alot of the little things your buying though, like the calipers, bullet puller, digital scale, case lube (not the cleaner though). The Positive Priming System is the priming system for the press, it beats using the hand tool for sure but can be bought separately. I started with the cheaper kit myself. It's not really anymore than the Lee Turret once you figure in the free bullets. I'd personaly rather have a single stage than a turret press, then upgrade to a progressive later, and then you can still use the quick change bushings.

You may also need shell holders. And may also want : primer flip tray and a powder trickler. They are cheap tools to make the task easier.

You can get a cheap digital caliper on amazon for about $14 a dial caliper will cost more.

I don't know what a lock stud is so you can probably go without that?

If you do wash and scrub each piece of brass make sure you rinse them very well. No need for the oven this time of year, I always dry mine in the sun (Stainless media tumbler).

I would suggest starting with a powder that will fill the case more than 1/2 way, that way you will spill powder all over the place instead of loading a double charge. Longshot (also a shotgun powder) will work pretty good for this and I know it works for 40sw.

Oh get a can or two of hornady one shot CLEANER, you will want this to remove the oily anti-rust residue from your new dies and powder dropper. Its good to have to clean your dies, I can't live without it

[Bill Steele]

You will want a tumber, I would instead skip the turret press, get a tumbler and single stage press with quick change bushings instead if that's an option. Cleaning brass sucks so you will want to automate this step, cleaner brass means cleaner less problematic dies. You can skip the primer pocket cleaner and get a more useful "primer pocket uniformer". Just get a small base die later if you size your brass and still have case/glock buldge.

Look into a hornady kit, and compare the cost to the Lee if you include the 500 free hornady bullets and other extras you get for buying their kit. I picked 500 185gr XTP hollowpoints for my 500 free bullets.

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/23675

or cheaper:

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/5985

the delux comes with alot of the little things your buying though, like the calipers, bullet puller, digital scale, case lube (not the cleaner though). The Positive Priming System is the priming system for the press, it beats using the hand tool for sure.


You may also need shell holders. And may also want : primer flip tray and a powder trickler. They are cheap tools to make the task easier.

You can get a cheap digital caliper on amazon for about $14 a dial caliper will cost more.

I don't know what a lock stud is so you can probably go without that?

If you do wash and scrub each piece of brass make sure you rinse them very well. No need for the oven this time of year, I always dry mine in the sun (Stainless media tumbler).

I would suggest starting with a powder that will fill the case more than 1/2 way, that way you will spill powder all over the place instead of loading a double charge. Longshot (also a shotgun powder) will work pretty good for this and I know it works for 40sw.

Oh get a can or two of hornady one shot CLEANER, you will want this to remove the oily anti-rust residue from your new dies and powder dropper. Its good to have to clean your dies, I can't live without it

This is just my opinion but this advice is about as bad as it gets.

First, he bought a Lee Turret.

Second, a tumbler is not a necessity. Wiping cases in a damp towel is all the is "required"

Third, he is loading for 40S&W, so even if he had not already made a choice, a single stage press is not his best choice (possibly the most debatable of all the issues at hand).

Fourth what is he going to use a trickler for? He is loading 40S&W.

Fifth, ditto on the primer pocket uniformer? For what? Uniforming his 40S&W pockets?

It is confusing enough starting out, getting this kind of advice is counter productive.

[Raralith]

Thanks for the information ya'll, I do greatly appreciated it. I just ordered the Lee 4 piece die set, caliper, and bullet puller. Question on the headspace gauge kit, is this necessary if I am checking the overall length (OAL?)?

As for the press itself, I choose it because it gave me pretty much everything I need, and it fit my budget of $300 for everything. I'll be using it in a single stage mode until I get a good handle of reloading in general than move on up.

[Justintoxicated]

This is just my opinion but this advice is about as bad as it gets.

First, he bought a Lee Turret.

Second, a tumbler is not a necessity. Wiping cases in a damp towel is all the is "required"

Third, he is loading for 40S&W, so even if he had not already made a choice, a single stage press is not his best choice (possibly the most debatable of all the issues at hand).

Fourth what is he going to use a trickler for? He is loading 40S&W.

Fifth, ditto on the primer pocket uniformer? For what? Uniforming his 40S&W pockets?

It is confusing enough starting out, getting this kind of advice is counter productive.

Missed he had already bought the press. But I will stand by the rest, I do uniform my pistol brass makes them easier to and more consistent to prime, but I have NEVER bothered with my primer pocket cleaner, it's faster and cleaner to uniform them than to clean them, neither step is required. I don't think a turret press is any faster than a single stage with quick change bushings, and would be less prone to error for someone new since you do everything in steps. What would he use a trickler for? what do ya think Consistency is the game when it comes to reloading, especially when making your starting loads, you should weigh every charge and trickle up.

Yea you can clean each piece of brass, but that is super tedious, I'd rather have a single stage and tumbler over a turret press, your not going to save any time having to clean each piece of brass...

[Justintoxicated]

Thanks for the information ya'll, I do greatly appreciated it. I just ordered the Lee 4 piece die set, caliper, and bullet puller. Question on the headspace gauge kit, is this necessary if I am checking the overall length (OAL?)?

As for the press itself, I choose it because it gave me pretty much everything I need, and it fit my budget of $300 for everything. I'll be using it in a single stage mode until I get a good handle of reloading in general than move on up.

Press will work fine, I'm not knocking it, just I would have rather gotten the Lee single breech lock and a tumbler.

No you don't need the case gauge, just make a dummy round and make sure it chambers in your gun. I have never needed a case gauge, although they do have their uses.

one more thing, you might need to pick something up to swage brass if the primers are crimped. I'm not sure how common that is for 40 S&W though I know it is out there. I'm not sure if the RCBS swage kit will work on a turret press or not. You can probably worry about this later but keep an eye on your brass.

the ring in the case around the primer is the crimp. This piece of brass would need to be swaged.

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

A quality reloading manual would be a absolute necessity, if you don't already have one.

Look up the Lee Loader. You are already way ahead of the game as far as equipment is concerned.

[Raralith]

I was debating the single stage "kit," but I decided with the turret "kit" because it came with more equipment which was almost everything. If I tried to build the same kit separately, I would have paid $80+ more. It actually does come with a reloading manual, "Modern Reloading Second Edition," but I have no idea if it is good or not. If I could have purchased the same kit but with a single turret and cheaper, I would have went that route. More than likely, I do see a progressive press in the future, and I'll be moving this into 223 loads.

I'm pretty confused on crimped primers and swaging so I'll do a bit of research into that.

[Bill Steele]

The Lee 2nd edition is an excellent how to book (given you got his equipment you are inoculated to his inherent sales pitch in the manual), it also has the most loads (recipes) of any of the books, a nice feature.

Good luck.

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

I was debating the single stage "kit," but I decided with the turret "kit" because it came with more equipment which was almost everything. If I tried to build the same kit separately, I would have paid $80+ more. It actually does come with a reloading manual, "Modern Reloading Second Edition," but I have no idea if it is good or not. If I could have purchased the same kit but with a single turret and cheaper, I would have went that route. More than likely, I do see a progressive press in the future, and I'll be moving this into 223 loads.

I'm pretty confused on crimped primers and swaging so I'll do a bit of research into that.

Crimped primers are not an issue with 40 S&W. You might run into them with .223. Swaging them is merely a process of forcing a correctly sized die into the primer pocket to remove the crimp, similar to resizing the casing. RCBS makes one, which I own, that has both small and large primer dies. I hardly ever use mine anymore.

[Scout2Diesel]

Very nice kit good choice. I've had a three hole lee turret for 15 yrs or so. I like it...very versatile. Lee makes a lot of handy items and you got most in the kit. Looks like Bill gave you the low down. That is what you needed... for now.

The 40 s&w Glocked bulge is definitely something to be watching out (and keeping track of) for after your cases have been fire multi times. They will not fit in a case gauge. I keep range pickups (not glocked) separate.

If you pick up an after market barrel you can shoot lead and worry less as you will not have the bulge either.

I'm using Extreme 180gr copper plated and Bullseye which is fine in the stock barrel.

Maybe next thing you'll 'need' a HFT ultrasonic cleaner and a quart of Hornady sonic brass clean for about a $100 total. I was amazed how well it works and is handy to clean the dies and tools too. (and of course eventually a tumbler too...)

GL

[Justintoxicated]

Very nice kit good choice. I've had a three hole lee turret for 15 yrs or so. I like it...very versatile. Lee makes a lot of handy items and you got most in the kit. Looks like Bill gave you the low down. That is what you needed... for now.

The 40 s&w Glocked bulge is definitely something to be watching out (and keeping track of) for after your cases have been fire multi times. They will not fit in a case gauge. I keep range pickups (not glocked) separate.

If you pick up an after market barrel you can shoot lead and worry less as you will not have the bulge either.

I'm using Extreme 180gr copper plated and Bullseye which is fine in the stock barrel.

Maybe next thing you'll 'need' a HFT ultrasonic cleaner and a quart of Hornady sonic brass clean for about a $100 total. I was amazed how well it works and is handy to clean the dies and tools too. (and of course eventually a tumbler too...)

GL

You can visually see glock buldge. It can be found in many cases from any gun with a loose chamber I think I read the buldge buster specifically mentions not to use on glocked brass (what else would you use it for though?). You still probably won't need a case gauge as you should be inspecting your brass. If you feel more comfortable with one then get one. Your best gauge will be the chamber in your barrel though. Like was said above you probably won't need the swager right away as crimped cases seem less common in 40S&W, but it should be one of the things you look for when inspecting your brass. Don't throw them out just save them up until you have enough to warrant purchasing a swager. If the RCBS dies are not compatible with the turret press you can buy a Dillon super swagger for a bit more coin, but it works better than the swager dies anyways. You WILL run into it on 223 for sure. Other people just use the deburing tool to cut out the crimp, but that's not preferred. A quick you-tube and you will understand exactly what I mean, it's not complicated at all and it all makes allot more sense when you have everything in front of you.


Glock Buldge

The manual that comes with your kit should be plenty to get you started.

I'm going to throw this out for the sake of argument, but if you keep your brass clean, you won't need to clean your dies often enough to warrant the cost of an ultrasonic cleaner, you would be better off investing in a stainless tumbler. That's what I would do, but a vibratory would be the way to automate the cleaning process on a budget.